Crystal River current., 1887-07-02


reach water would willingly die; but
knew it was madness, so resisted
the fiery thirst that would have me
release my hold and perish. Water!
Yes, there was water at the bot
tom of the shaft, fathoms deep below
my feet, but Icould only reach that to
die; and there was the water on the
fair earth, fathoms above me-water
should never see again.
I grew dizzy-sick-blind. l should
have fainted-have fallen-died; but
as leaned my head against a. lock,
felt as though cold, refreshing hand
were laid upon it suddenly.
It was water! 1t was no madness
it was water. A tiny stream trickling
through the bare wall ofrock, like dew
from heaven. held forth my parched
tongue and caught the drops as they
fell; and as drank my strength was
renewed, and hope and the desire for
life grew warm within me again. And
yet on this the second night of my i'm
prisonment l cared not so passionate
Iy-I looked not SO eagerly for succor.
My limbs were numbed, my brain
deadened; life was ebbing toward
death; shadow at times fell over my
eyes, and if held still to the hilt OF
my sword. if my feet sought still the
ledge that rested them, they did it
mechanically from habit and not from
hope.
think sometimes was not in my
right mind. was among green fields
and woods; l was gathering flowers;
I was climbing mountains; and from
these visions l invariably awoke to
Observation-Disclosures above, around
darkness below, hiding the abyss that
hungered greedily for my life. And no
friendly face, no voice, no football near.
Not even a step, through all these
slow, slow hours. If passing peasant
through the day had heard the lonely
cry rising from the depths, he had set
it down to ghost or pixy, and had
passed on his frightened way regard
less.
And now that night was wearing on,
and no rescue. [ could not live until
wandered again. My mother waited
bound by chain, in outer darkness,
and I was going to die There was no
Christian in all the land to succor me
Il was forgotten and forsaken, left in
the pit-and I would unclasp my
hands and fall and die. No. would
call again once more. "Help! help!
Mercy! help!" ..
AS my fainting voice died in the dark
depths and quivered up to the glim-
mering sky, felt hope die whit, and
gave up all thought of life. l turned
my eyes toward my grave below, and
murmured with parched lips:
"Out OF the depths have Icried unto
thee, o Lord"
The little rill that had saved my life
hitherto still trickled on, and it's sill
very murmur, as it dropped on the
rocks below was the sole sound that
broke the deathly silence around me.
My prayer was over, and l had not
relinquished my hold. was stronger
than had deemed myself. l would
cry out again. "Help! help! help!"
stopped. IlIstened. Asound was
floating on the wind. Coming, coming,
joining the drip, drip, drip OF the rill-
then dying, then returning. Listening
with my whole being, recognized the
sound. Bells-chuch bells-chimes
Ginning in the New Year. so. God,
have mercy ON me! have mercy on mel"
Bells ringing in the new year-bells
Ginning in the ears of friends, telling of
sadness and hope-bells clashing in at
merry intervals between music and
laughter, loving greetings, kisses and
joy.
Will no one in my fathers house
take pity on me? Am I missed no.
where? The bells chime feasting
and gladness, and I am here hanging
between life and death. The jaws of
the grave are beneath me, my joints
are broken and the bells chime on.
Would it not be good deed on this
New Years day to save me? Oh, FEAST
ers and jewellers, hear me!
"Help! help! 1t is Christmas time.
Help, for Christ's sake, good people!"
The bells float nearer and drown the
drip of the trucking water, and cry
"Help! help" saying, "Now will I call
till die" A film grows over my eyes,
but my voice is strong and desperate,
as Ishout, "Christmastide!Fo For Christ's
sake, help, good Christians"
A great light-a flash of fire! For
moment deem it death; gazing up
ward see, amid a glare Of torches,
faces-O they were angels to me-eag-
err faces peering downward. And close
to me swings q torch, let down into
the depths; it's light falls on my hae-
gard face-a great shout rends the
"He is here! he is safe!-he lives!"
cannot speak, though my lips
move, and my heart stands still as 1
see one, two, three daring men swing
themselves over the abyss-miners,
used to danger-and in a moment
stout arms are around me and l am
borne upward. carried gently like
child, placed an instant on my feet,
and then laid tenderly down on the
earth. l am so weary, and faint, and
worn, that lie with closed eyes, new
ey striving to say word OF thanks.
"Go not SO near the brink. madam,
! entreat!" hear a voice cry sharp
ly. Then I open my aching lids, and
hot. 81